Dear Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless,
We are writing to show our deep concern about the direction of the research system in Ireland, and object to Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland’s recently published 2026-2030 strategy and proposed “Empower” programme. The Empower programme is set to replace the Government of Ireland fellowship programme by devolving the funding to the universities.
But who does this empower? Not early career researchers. We believe that the proposed changes will:
1) Increase precarity and stagnate research career advancement.
Winning funding in one’s own name is a means to demonstrate research excellence and GOI funding has enjoyed an excellent reputation as a result. The proposed changes award funding to institutions, not to individuals. This devalues research funding in Ireland by removing the individually-earned stamp of excellence that comes with independent peer review of research proposals. Research Ireland aims instead for a range of university-led award processes, creating a constantly changing landscape of institutional funding calls, which will result in instability for researchers. Now, most funding is only available to those with long-term university contracts, such as professors. This move further restricts access to mid- and advanced level investigator-led funding calls for early career researchers. Instead of a pipeline this creates a dead end career which discourages talent and increases precarity.
2) Increase PhD researchers’ precarity specifically
The GOI doctoral fellowships were won independently on researchers’ own ideas and hosted at any Irish HEI and supervisor of their own choosing; the new funding model will eliminate any such autonomy. Additionally, holding the funding in their name gave them stability. The lack of employee status for PhD researchers results in no legally enforceable worker protections such as unfair dismissal procedures or the right to join a trade union. If they are dismissed, PhDs' student status and exclusion from the welfare system mean they cannot claim unemployment benefits. For non-EU PhDs, this means they can be deported. The bargaining power given to the researcher by this funding was the only real protection they had.
3) Stagnate the pay of PhD researchers.
Since the 2023 National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers, which recommended a stipend of €25,000, the Irish minimum wage rose by 25.2%, and the stipend continues to fall below minimum wage. Non-EU PhDs often must support an entire family on this sub-minimum wage stipend, as their spouse is legally unable to work. The Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland stipend has been the benchmark across the system. However, while stipends are currently maintained at this level, there is no guarantee that Research Ireland will commit to raising stipends and salaries in line with inflation.
4) Reduce the academic freedom of researchers.
Under the system as it stood before this change, prospective PhDs and postdoctoral researchers were able to propose their own research topic and applications were internationally peer-reviewed. This system created room for novel ideas by the next generation of researchers and guaranteed excellence in line with international best practice as enshrined in EU guidelines. By allowing universities to allocate formerly-GOI fellowship funding strategically we risk severely limiting this avenue for novel research. This is not a bottom-up or open competition.
5) Lack of transparency and competitive peer review
Awarding fellowships internally risks a conflict of interest where awards are allocated by those who stand to benefit rather than by international experts. Review of a university’s strategy can in no way replace the rigorous process of independent peer review of research proposals. To guarantee funding based on excellence there needs to be independent, international peer review.
We agree with the other open letter’s call for Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland’s decision to be reversed, but by itself is not sufficient to fully address the issues we have outlined above. There needs to be an overhaul of the system to improve conditions, decrease precarity, and make the academic system more sustainable.
We call on the Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless to
A) Protect individual blue skies funding applications for early career researchers.
The former GOI funding allocation should be ringfenced for open-competition PhD and postdoc fellowships and the percentage spent on each should be protected.
B) End precarity for researchers.
Researchers on short-term contracts are at the mercy of unstable funding strategies. For researchers to be able to pursue a career and perform optimally, there must be stability and sustainability of funding and security of contract. We urgently need a commitment to longer-term contracts and structured pathways to promotion, funding progression, and permanent employment. Researchers should be included in the Cush legislation, meaning that they would be entitled to permanency after subsequent contracts just like workers in other sectors.
C) Recognise PhD Workers' rights
PhD researchers in Ireland are paid some of the lowest in Europe, 33% under the cost of living. PhD workers should be moved to employee status so that they have the same protections enjoyed by all other workers in Ireland. PhD workers should be paid a living wage, all salaries should be indexed to the rate of inflation or collective bargaining agreements, and salaries should reflect experience. This would ensure that all researchers, both EU and Non-EU, have equal access to the social welfare system, and to equitable working conditions. By moving to a worker’s Stamp 1 visa, non-EU PhDs would have improved quality of life and their spouses could work.
D) Fund research sustainably, equitably, and at all career stages.
Ireland spends just 0.21% of GDP on research, far below the EU average of 0.7%, or Germany or Denmark at 1%. Universities should be funded at least in line with other European countries. Increasing the number of posts and creating permanent posts will guarantee knowledge retention and create a globally competitive sector. The structural imbalance in AHSS vs STEM funding urgently needs to be equalised. Mid-career and advanced-level grants ought to be open to all applicants irrespective of location or contract to guarantee that Ireland will attract high quality researchers to strengthen Ireland’s global knowledge economy. Moving to a workers visa for non-EU PhDs would also retain talent and the critical skills they possess.
E) Guarantee real sectoral consultation with researchers at all career stages.
This must include consultation with all representative bodies across Ireland’s research sector, including the trade unions, student bodies, and researcher associations and honour existing collective bargaining agreements. The lack of meaningful consultation and the underrepresentation of researchers structurally is a major factor contributing to the current funding crisis. No decisions about us, without us.
Overall, we believe that Research Ireland’s incoming strategy will stagnate Ireland’s research capacity and continue to contribute to a brain drain. We urge the Minister to invest in an open, competitive, and sustainable research sector that builds capacity for Ireland’s knowledge economy.